Activists rally for cleaner air

Emily S. Achenbaum, TRIBUNE REPORTERCHICAGO TRIBUNE

Supporters of the proposed Illinois Clean Car Act rallied Sunday in downtown Chicago with the hope that state legislators will pass a bill they say would help significantly decrease air pollution in Illinois.

More than 50 people, including several Loyola University Chicago and Northwestern University students, braved light snow flurries at the Kluczynski Federal Building's plaza to hear speakers make brief but vigorous comments in support of the bill's passage.

According to the Environmental Law & Policy Center, which does environmental advocacy work across the Midwest and is based in Chicago, House Bill 3424 would make the state adopt what they say are clean-car standards that would cut emissions.

Advocates of the bill say it would promote the sale of fuel-efficient vehicles in Illinois and, by reducing the pollutants emitted by cars and trucks, would improve air quality and public health. Asthma and allergies, which are increasing among children, are exacerbated by poor air quality, health experts say.

At least 13 states, including California, already have similar clean-car laws. Some detractors of the law in other states have argued that the laws take away customers' right to choose the type of cars they want.

"We believe this legislation should move immediately in Springfield," said Barry Matchett, co-legislative director and policy advocate with the Environmental Law & Policy Center. Standards passed in other states are stronger than existing federal emissions rules, Matchett said.

Rob Kelter, president of the Illinois Environmental Council, said that if passed, the law would increase the number of fuel-efficient vehicles sold in Illinois.

Many automakers send their fuel-efficient cars to states with clean-car laws first, he said, and he'd like to see them headed to Illinois. The bill passed the Environmental Health Committee and is up for consideration by the entire House.